James De Vries

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Service Schedule
Memorial Service
St. Andrew's Church
8300 Kanis Road
Little Rock, AR  72204
Thursday, April 11, 2019
2 pm
James De Vries

of Little Rock, AR

February 13, 1944 - April 7, 2019

Dr. James "Pake" De Vries, 75, of Little Rock, went to heaven on April 7, 2019.

Jim was born in the Netherlands, emigrated by boat with his parents and seven siblings to the United States as a teenager, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1961. His passion for helping others led him to join the Peace Corps where he served in East Africa. His time in Africa marked a turning point in his life.

It was there that he found a desire to help the world's poor and hungry. While serving, he met Judy Richardson, and they married in Kenya on August 16, 1969. Judy passed away in 2014. Jim earned his Ph.D. in continuing and vocational education from the University of Wisconsin. He was fluent in English, Dutch and Swahili; and read and understood German.

He joined Heifer International in 1982 as director of Africa/Near East Programs. In 1992, he was promoted to director of International Programs and would retire as Senior Vice-President. Jim directed programs around the world. He provided leadership and mentoring to the headquarters team as well as to Heifer's on-the-ground staff around the world, developing and managing more than 488 programs through 35 country offices. Jim's tireless efforts made the lives of thousands of people better.

Jim was an active member of St. Andrew's Church. After retirement, he served through the Missions Team and Grief Share mentoring. There he meet Suzanne Tank, and on January 7, 2017 they married.

Jim is survived by Suzanne, his three sons, and four grandchildren; Eric and wife Kristi, their children: Lauran and husband Jeremy, Tyler, and Emma; Christian and wife Sarah, and their son Alexander; and Timothy De Vries. He is also survived by, his brothers Charlie De Vries and Bill De Vries, and sisters Linda Blokeyl, Susan Henry, Ann Scholier, and Alberta Harris.

The memorial service will be at St. Andrew's Church, 8300 Kanis Rd., Little Rock, AR 72204, on Thursday, April 11th at 2 pm. Memorial gifts should be made to Heifer International Foundation.


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17 Condolence(s)
Gene and Lora Anderson
Roseville, MN
Liked
Friday, April 12, 2019

Our condolences to Jim's family. We got to know Jim and Judy as friends when Jim and Gene were graduate students at the University of Wisconsin in 1970/71 and then had occasional contact after that.

Fernando Larrea
Quito,
Liked
Thursday, April 11, 2019

We will allways carry Jim in our memory and heart. With his commitment to justice and his testimony,he led for many years our work with Heifer International throughout the world. I remember so many good times shared. My heartfelt condolences to all his family anf friends around the world.
Fernando Larrea

Merrill & Priscilla Ewert
Sun City West, AZ
Liked
Thursday, April 11, 2019

We were deeply saddened to learn of Jim’s sudden passing. I (Merrill writing) first got to know him when we were both grad students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Continuing and Vocational Education. Jim and I had desks in the same student office, took many of the same classes, debated educational and political issues at great length, and worked collaboratively on classroom projects. We even submitted a joint foundational proposal for our dissertation research—which alas, did not get funded.

Instead, Priscilla and I went to do development work in Congo while Jim and Judy moved back to Tanzania. We visited them at their home in Tanzania and stayed in touch over the years. I had hoped that Jim would follow me at the University of Maryland when I left for another position but God (and Jim) had other plans. Over the years, however, it was great fun to talk on the phone and email (once that became possible) back and forth about community development issues and the role of NGOs in social change.

Jim loved the Lord, his family, and his work; the latter was a calling, not a job. We are praying that wonderful memories will sustain you (Jim’s family), giving you a measure of peace and comfort during these difficult days.

Merrill & Priscilla Ewert
Sun City West, Arizona

Gary Earleywine, CAMN president
Little Rock, AR
Liked
Thursday, April 11, 2019

The CAMN members express our sympathy to Jim's family. He was a tireless and dedicated worker in CAMN and he will be greatly missed.

Gordon Matzke
Corvallis, OR
Liked
Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Suzanne,
Just a bit over a month ago, we met for the first time as we visited Little Rock and shared dinner with you and Jim. It was clear to us that Jim was blessed to have lived the last years of his life with you. Those of us who knew Jim for many years were equally blessed. He was an extraordinary personal friend, a true friend of Africa, and a man committed to making the world a better place for the rural poor.
I (Gordon) first met Jim at Syracuse University where we both spent three months in Peace Corps training as we were introduced to varied subjects including Swahili, soccer, auto mechanics, agriculture, and Tanzanian culture. We had the good fortune to be assigned to the Tanzanian Division of Village Settlement and took up our respective posts in villages several hundred miles apart. In spite of the distance, we regularly met when work, and friendship, brought us together in Dar es Salaam. We shared many adventures together.
Jim may have shared stories of those times. On one occasion, we were caught by a travel curfew in the Serengeti National Park so we parked our Volkswagen Beetle and set up camp to sleep in the open with only a blanket and a fire between us and the wilderness. As luck would have it, a pride of lions descended on our site and their roars sent us both through the door of that little automobile at the same time. After getting disentangled, we spent the rest of the sleepless night in that little car surrounded by these feckless felines until they departed at dawn. When park rangers crept into our makeshift camp at dawn to see if we were still alive, they found us once again laid out on our blankets attempting to get some sleep. We told a bit of fib by saying we were used to lions and they didn’t bother us at all!
Jim met Judy, moved to Kenya, and I was honored to be the best man at his wedding in Nairobi. When the family again took up residence in Tanzania, we regularly spent time with them as I was doing Ph.D. research in the Selous Game Reserve. Their welcoming home was a favorite stop for us during those times.
Once Jim joined Heifer Project, we were able to return the offer of a familiar place to stay when we were residing in both Lusaka, Zambia and Harare, Zimbabwe. It was in Zambia that he asked us to visit a new Heifer Poultry Project in his absence. This introduction to the work of the organization started us on a path as lifelong donors to Heifer Project and its worthy cause.
Jim and Judy joined with us and friends for a very special revisit to Tanzania in 2011. On this trip, he arranged for visits to Heifer sites in several places. In these cases, we were able to see the outcomes in the lives of people on farms that were transformed by long established Heifer initiatives overseen by Jim. The transformation in the lives of people was truly phenomenal.
Jim’s 50+ year friendship will not be forgotten. We shared a lot and learned a lot from Jim. His work was important and his exemplary life was extraordinary. In his memory, we are making a contribution to the work of Heifer Project. In his passing, Jim’s gift to the world and the people he touched, continues. In our collective grief the loss of James DeVries, let us remember that his was a life worth living. He positively touched the lives of many and now joins the promise brought to us by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Gordon and Mary Ann Matzke April 10, 2019

Jerry & Judy Aaker
Butte, MT
Liked
Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Our deepest sympathy to Eric, Christian, Tim, Suzanne & all the family. Jim touched so many lives during his lifetime through his work and faith; he will be missed by many. Our families became friends when Jerry and Jim worked together for HPI. So many memories and shared times; too numerous to even mention. Jim was an easy person to work with and was missed when we moved from Little Rock. However we remained in touch over the years; receiving his last email 3 days before his death.
May God grant you strength and comfort as you mourn the loss of this wonderful person.
Jerry & Judy Aaker

Jackson Pruss and Korey Hendrix
Little Rock, AR
Liked
Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Our deepest condolences to you Lauran and the whole De Vries Family.

Karen Maddox
Little Rock, AR
Liked
Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Dr. Shubh N. Mahato
Kathmandu, AL
Liked
Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Dear Suzanne,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you in this hour of loss and send our condolences to the entire family. I had the opportunity of meeting James the first time, during 60th anniversary of Heifer International in 2004 and ever since that day, his compassion and sensitivity has stuck with me and has inspired me to a great deal. An honorable man so committed to helping the needy and bettering the world, he contributed a lot towards the establishment of Heifer Nepal program including having its own office building in Kathmandu, which was the biggest milestone in the history of Heifer Nepal. He will be missed and remembered for years to come. Please know that we are keeping him and all the family in our prayers.
Wednesday, 10th April 2019.
Dr. Shubh N. Mahato and Heifer Nepal Team

Mark Tsoxo
Mbeya,, AR
Liked
Tuesday, April 9, 2019

My deepest condolence to the Family, my colleague Heifer staff, friends and many poor families whose lives have been touched by Jim De Vries’ great work. I did not know earlier than today that the Sokoine’s Jim and Heifer’s Jim are the same. It is exciting knowing that but with full sadness that I came to know on his eternal departure…….wish I would have known it and could have sent him an appreciation email. Nevertheless, the souls shall connect and communicate in prayers. Jim De Vries’ name sounded familiar among many Tanzanians of my generation who studied at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania. Jim’s academic work (papers) enriched my knowledge and of many others. I then heard about Jim’s good work before I joined Heifer; and felt a warmth of his legacy after I joined the great home (Heifer). The then ‘two’ (now one) Jim De Vries have made a significant contribution to our academic transformation and of many poor lives in Tanzania and elsewhere. We are indebted for his extraordinary work; a great legacy which laid a strong foundation of Heifer development work in Tanzania. Indeed, many poor lives have been redeemed through his commitment and love for them. It is sad that Jim De Vries has physically passed away, but we are solaced that great people like him live forever through their great legacies. As we mourn his departure and celebrate his great life, lets live and cherish his legacy by tirelessly committing efforts in transforming poor lives.
We are putting Jim’s Family on our prayers. Buriani Jim De Vries, Rafiki Mkubwa wa Maskini [Swahili meaning: Rest In Peace Jim De Vries, a great Friend of the poor)

Viola Chemis
Nairobi, AR
Liked
Tuesday, April 9, 2019

The passing on of James De Vries is a lose to Heifer International. Though I didn't meet Jim in person, I connected with his work through his contribution in development of Heifer cornerstones - our time tested values and principles that guide Heifer's mission globally. As heifer's work keeps lighting the world, so will the efforts of our pioneers (James included) live on through us (because of their legacy).

As Christians, we believe that James De Vries will live because the spirit of God lived in him (Reference: If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from death, lives in you, then he who raised Christ from death will also give life to your mortal bodies by the presence of his Spirit in you. Romans 8:11 GNB). Fare thee well till we meet again.

Rob and Sherri Oehme
Little Rock, AR
Liked
Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Dear Suzanne, it is with heavy hearts that we send our condolences to you and your family. As Weekend to Remember Directors, we remember seeing you and James at the conference this last weekend, making your marriage a priority right to the end. What a beautiful act of intentionally loving your spouse—an inspiration for all the young couples in attendance. Please know our team has been lifting you in prayer.

Rosa Rodríguez and the Heifer Ecuador Team
Quito, AR
Liked
Tuesday, April 9, 2019

With great sadness we received the news of the death of Jim De Vries. We had the opportunity to meet him during his visits to Heifer Ecuador. He was a sensitive man with a great commitment to a better world and a firm believer in our work in the field of agroecology. Heifer Ecuador’s team remembers him with love and thinks of his entire family in the midst of this pain.

John Richardson
Ashland, ME
Liked
Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Jim was a good man, good husband, good father, good grandfather and a good citizen of the world, spending his entire career helping those most vulnerable and in need. What more can a person do while on this earth. He will be missed.

Jenny & Michael Hawbecker
San Antonio, TX
Liked
Monday, April 8, 2019

Jim, our meetings were always so brief but so sweet and I was so very blessed to have such a wonderful father figure in the life of my sister. Sarah had the father she always wanted with you. Kind, loving, and a heart for humanity. You will always be loved and missed. Till we meet again in heaven sir!

Diana Davis
Elmendorf, TX
Liked
Monday, April 8, 2019

To Jim a wonderful example of a servant. Willing to serve and mentor others. Our family will miss the joy and wisdom you shared with us . You lived out your deep spiritual commitment to your family and the community you served. The Lord will say, well done thou good and faithful servant. You are home now.

Mary Lou Richardson
Barre, VT
Liked
Monday, April 8, 2019

On behalf of the entire Richardson Family, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to the DeVries sons,their families, and Susanne. Jim was loved, admired, and cherished by our family for decades. His humanitarian spirit has for years inspired us. His dedication to helping the poor and hungry around the world has shown the content of his character. He will be missed by so many.Now he rests in the embrace of his personal Lord and Savior. We will always love you, Jim.